Music for the Soul

Music is a powerful thing. We all have our styles and reasons behind the types of music we enjoy, but every so often we come across a song, an album, or an artist that completely changes our world. For me that artist would be Gregory Alan Isakov.

LIVE at Benaroya Hall!!

I had always enjoyed his music, but it wasn’t until nearly two years ago I really immersed myself in his magic. Listening to him helped me not only blossom after a breakup, but gave me a sense of hope that I hadn’t had before.

OK enough mush, time for a recap! From the top.

These treats were actually mine, brought to me by my wonderful boss all the way from Portland. I resisted the urge to eatallthesugar and saved half for my mom.

As if my birthday weekend wasn’t enough, my mom happened to be born two days after me. Well two days, and a few years ago or so. For Christmas I selfishly purchased two tickets to see Isakov play with the Seattle Symphony, because when you’re already a fantastic artist having the symphony back you up just happens.

Her birthday fell on the day of the show, but to ensure that this was not her birthday gift, we made a day of it. Starting with the coffee and treats from above, followed by a hop, skip, and a twirl over to Seattle for a trip to the Roastery, Pike Place, & dinner.

Drinking good coffee makes you glow. It’s a fact.

After satisfying my monthly sugar quota with a vegan cinnamon roll the size of my face, we wandered like two lost souls in search of a land filled with glistening eggplant and oven crisped potatoes. Isakov will want to hire me after reading that sentence.

Dinner knocked my non existent socks off. I felt the overwhelming urge to roll around in a sea of mint and basil leaves. This flavor combination was insane. Equally insane? The inside of Benaroya Hall. It was a shame I left my opera glasses at Walmart.

I was excited enough to take an awkward bathroom selfie. And the concert?…

He was fantastic, and he is the most humble artist I’ve ever met. Yes…met. Shook his hand and everything. I wanted a photo with him, but we weren’t allowed. It was a shame I had already broken all my allotted rules for the day.

He.Is.Adorable. His poster had trees on in and we talked about gardening while he signed mine.

His performance was so fantastic my eyes started to swell at times and this liquid stuff filled into the corners. I also looked like a fearful cat thanks to the hairs on my arms standing up from the chills the acoustics gave me. What an experience.

pickyrunner

Oooooohkay that cinnamon roll though. YUM. I’m hungry and I had breakfast less than 2 hours ago. Best concert I’ve been to? John Mayer was pretty good when I was about 15 but I think that was more because my mom kept pointing out all the people that were on illicit substances and it made for a good laugh haha it sounds like you had a great time. Sometimes those “selfish” gifts are the best kind 😉

You trying to beat my “largest cinnamon roll” purchase? I think you might win. I’m all about a bahn mi! Love the flavor combos. Seems like you made your mom’s bday as special as she made yours! I need to download some Isakov when I get home 🙂 Handsome and humble? AND he gardens… swoon. Don’t laugh when I say T.Swift is the best concert I’ve been to.

I love the acoustic songs which make your hairs raise on your arms!!! AKSLNDFN One of the best feelings, I swear. I could live the rest of my life listening to piano and acoustic cover songs. And coffee “after glow” is definitely a thing.

The best concert I’ve ever been to was one of my first – B.B. King! I was required to see a concert for a college music class, and after showing my dad the list, he insisted on taking me. It was a great show, and one of the best memories of me with my dad. 🙂

That sounds like a fantastic weekend! I love orchestral music infused with modern music. It just adds a layer of amazingness. To answer your question, the best concert I’ve ever been to was an outdoor Mumford & Sons Concert. I cried. I actually cried because it was so incredibly beautiful. The day they announce another tour… I will buy tickets instantly. Anyway, Happy belated birthday to you and your mum!

I would LOVE to see Mumford live. I would cry too, and as I said in the ending paragraph of this post I definitely started to cry during this performance. It was just so beautiful and I got ALL THE FEELS. No shame.

That sounds like a blast! Mom time is the best of all time. The best concert I’ve ever been to was the only one I’ve ever been to by myself haha! I saw Timeflies at a small bar here in Tampa, and it was definitely one of the best nights ever 🙂

My husband surprised me with a Squirrel Nut Zippers concert years ago. It was sooooo fun! At the end I jumped on stage and asked the singer if he could give me his awesome hat. He said ” you gotta come to Memphis for that.” They are so much fun to dance to!

As a former band geek, this makes me so SO happy that you went to see a live symphony performance!! It reminds me how much I miss those days… And how long it’s been. 😉 I’m so glad that you and your mom enjoyed your birthday “day” together!

I would have loved to attend that concert and I think that bathroom selfie was adorable and cute! On my recent rainforest walk I came across a lot of edible food including bunya nuts and lilly pilly fruit. I was reminded of you and your healthy raw foods. You’d find a lot in our rainforests to survive on! No coffee though, unfortunately! 🙂

Ahhhaha no, they’re not slippers!! Funny they do kinda look like them, just casual flats. I’m not a shoe person as you can see. Thank you my friend, and come visit Seattle I’ll buy you two cinnamon rolls.

Your dress is lovely! I have an obsession with floral prints and dresses. Also, I don’t know what looks better, the massive cinnamon roll or the banh mi…I’m so jealous of the vegan food scene in the PNW.

My most favorite concert was the one I went to last summer with my mom and sister, Center of the Universe in Tulsa. We’re all really into alt rock music so it definitely didn’t disappoint, and I much prefer outdoor, festival type concerts. Butttttt it was also 100 degrees and humid so that kind of sucked.

Ellie

I went to the nutcracker when I was young and still think that was the best concert I have ever attended. I also love going to the Summer Music Concert series downtown each summer. I have seen the Gunpoets and Thousands of One both of which were FANTASTIC!
I love your dress by the way! Super chic!

The Stable Song by Gregory Alan Isakov = perfection. I listen to him on Spotify while I’m out walking 🙂 I bet that was just an amazing night. By the way, I’m listening to him right now. Figured it was fitting 🙂 I’ve said it a million times before but I truly do wish we lived closer to one another. I know I have a baby now but I think it’d be so fun to throw her on my back and go hiking with you (and the out for coffee afterwards, naturally.)

Best concert I’ve ever been to: Ben Folds. So unbelievably talented. I also really loved Ingrid Michaelson – her voice is on point!

This is SO the kind of guy I imagine myself with too. Given I don’t ACTUALLY know this one, the way he presents himself is enough to know he is a good dude. I will have a bearded mountain like man with a calm spirit (this will be huge) and humble attitude!! When the time is right of course. 😉

brit, gah, you really are glowing in these pictures. you say it’s the coffee, but i say it’s a perfect day with your mom? i mean, the concert, the cinnabon, the excellent company? (okay, maybe a little bit of the coffee, too) OH, and your dress is perfection ❤

That is an awesome birthday weekend. How did you manage to resist eating allthesugar? I’m terrible at that. I’m glad you got to go see this guy in concert because that is always exciting. I’ve actually only been to I think 2 concerts in my entire life, but the first one was for the band that wrote the song/album I’m named after, and I was 13 and hate my name so I had more fun at the second one when I got to see Fall Out Boy and I was 15.

I’ve got to check Gregory out!! You look fabulous and it looks like it was an amazing birthday for your Mama!

Best concert I’ve been to… took my niece to see her favorite musician, Charlie Parr, when she was three. She got all dressed up in an outfit she picked out herself (cat tights, fringed boots, and a 70’s style dress). We got there and she walked right up to him by herself, grabbed his hand and asked if he’d pleaaasse play Rattlesnake. He did, of course, and she was so excited it almost made ME cry. After he played it she yelled, ‘Thank youuuu!!!!’ and everyone in the whole place laughed. Pretty special night.

I love this post. I have never heard of Gregory Alan Isakov before but I am listening him to now and he is great! I’m really excited to see Perfume Genius and Sufjan Stevens this spring. (Live) music is the best. And coffee does make you glow. 🙂

Totally need to check him out, as I’m not familiar with him, thank you for sharing! So glad you were able to see him and have a wonderful birthday and those pastries look to die for! Seriously, it’s just not fair you have so many vegan pastries around…nothing here!!! Boo!! My favorite concert ever was Sting….one of the best nights of my entire life, no lie.

What a talented musician – I love all types of music including classical. Did you try the coconut milk yet at Starbucks (I know you worked there)? What are your thoughts about the new ‘mylk’? Your boss is so sweet…and oh my gosh, the cinnamon rolls look fabulous! And HOLY YUM TO MY FACE, too…I love that tofu banh mi…And your bathroom selfie…uhh, love your dress! I really want to go see Stromae play!!! This Belgian singer rocks my socks!

I did try the coconut milk, the moment we received it I excitedly opened the box. Sadly, I wasn’t very impressed. For starters the ingredients aren’t the best, and the flavor is very mild…almost like coconut water. It’s a good option for a pinch, but not something I would order often. Same with the soy, too many extra ingredients. I appreciate the attempt, and still love me some Starbucks and am proud to work there, but I can’t say I’m a huge fan of the alternative milks.

I suppose it’s a good thing I don’t like “milk” in my coffee anyway. 🙂

Happy Happy Birthday girl! Looks like a marvelous time for certain! My best concert would have to be hands down, Taylor Swift with my mom! I get the wonderful opportunity to go again with my husband this fall! So excited!

melliedee

omg, I so want to go to a symphony. it’s been years! last I went was when my friend performed in the houston symphony. if you love symphony music try to make your way to Carnegie Hall. I played there before back in high school and it was phenomenal. the acoustics. gah … make your way there … you won’t regret it … I hope. haha

you look adorableeee and this looks like an amazing day. so glad you had such an amazing time at the show — i love when music can move you to tears and make you feel alllll the emotions. best concert i’ve ever been to, oh geeeeeze….i’ve gone to so many, as i’m a huge music freak. maybe the Beach Boys for my 13th birthday with my fam, as they’re my parents’ fave band and i was raised on Oldies and it was a surprise for me? also love Counting Crows so their shows astound me. LIVE MUSIC. yes.

BRITTANY- Self proclaimed minimalist "granola" striving to maintain a balanced, healthy life with good food, long hikes, strong relationships, exploration, lots of broccoli, and laughing like it's my J.O.B. Currently living and working in Germany, join me on my adventures abroad!

Contact: blissfulbritt@yahoo.com

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